Crate



Oe;A 1 929; Riti-'LANSBURG ciwm Original Fledlay 11, 1922 y 2 Sheng-'sheet 1 Oct. l, 1929.

P. FLANsBUG CRATE Original Filed May 17. 1922 2 shunts-Sheet 2 Pteranjbzzra,

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Paie-lad offer. i, ieee UNETFD STATES ljtalgti PATENT oFricE PETER FLANSB'URG, OF MANISTEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SOLOMON H. GOLDBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CRATE Application filed May 17, 1922, Serial No. 561,561.4 Renewed March 13, 1929.

rIlhis invention relates to improvements in crates and refers more particularly to crates used for shipping perishable products s uch as fruits, vegetables and berries, or fragile articles.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a double crate consisting of an inner and outer crate, the inner crate mounted upon flexible springs to absorb jarring and shock to the products during transit; to provide a double crate constructed so that it may be readily shipped in knock-down form; to provide a crate in which the perishable products are at all times thoroughly aerated, and are l5 kept intact due to the shock absorbing qualities of the crate; to provide a crate which is more compact both when loaded or in knockdcwn form, a crate that is rigid and of rugged construction to withstand the abuse to which @D it is subjected in transit, and one which is more economical both to the manufacturer and producer than those now in use.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the double crate with the small berry boxes removed, to

show the relative positioning of the inner and outer crates.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the center of the crate showing the small boxes in place.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inner crate or box carrier.

Fig. 4i is a perspective View of the inner crate bottom.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the side wires of the inner crate.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the end spring supports for the inner crate, and Fig. 7 is a detail of the middle spring supports for the inner crate.

Referring to the drawing the outer crate l may be constructed of any desired material such as heavy cardboard, fibre board, or any other flexible or semi-rigid material which will withstand the abuse to which the crates are subjected in transit, and have suihcient strength to carry the load of the products with which it is filled.

In the drawing is shown a bre board carton which is glued and stapled together to form a satisfactory and rigid construction. rlhis is shipped to the producer in knockdown form' so that itis a iiat sheet and takes i up a relatively small space in shipment. The sides of the carton or outer crate are perforated as shown at 2 to permit thorough ventilation of the perishable products which it conthe sides of the crate and thus 'be' held in pof sition.

In the center of the crate is positioned the middle spring support 4 which is identical in form to the end spring supports, except for the crimped center piece 3a. On these lower spring supports rests the inner crate which consists of a bottom portion 5 and side wires 6. The bottom is slotted along its lateral edges as shown at 7 and also along the ends so that the bottom may be engaged by the turn back portions 6a of the side wires which are slid into the slots and grip the bottom ofthe bottom portion forming upright sides or retaining sides for the smaller boxes which are carried on the inner crate.

These side wires are easily removable from the bottom of the inner crate and are shipped detached from the inner crate bottom. In addition to the slots 7 at each end of the inner crate bottom are slots 8 through which they,

crimped portion 3a of the end spring supports protrude. These crimped'portions hold the inner crate in position in the outer crate and prevent any appreciable lateral or longitudinal movement.

When the crates are shipped to the pro-v ducer, the outer box or crate l is unfolded and is in a fiat position as is the bottom of the inner crate, the wires being detached from the inner crate bottom taking up very littlespace in shipment. The small boxes 9 which great many more of the knock-clown cratesH than the wooden crates commonly used in the shipping of perishable products.

The springs which carry the inner crate, supply a resiliency to the inner crate which;

prevents bruising or crushing of the perishable products, and makes it possible to ship products Without loss from bruising and crushing in shipment.

I claim as my invention 1. In a `crate for perishable products, the combination With a ventilated outer container, of an inner ventilated box holding crate comprising a bottom and removable side portions, resilient removable means supported in the bottom of the container for carrying the inner crate, said resilient means being intermediately crimped and adapted to register with slots in the crate to prevent accidental displacement an-d formed to space the bottom of the outer container slightly avvay from the crate.

2. ina crate for perishableprodu-cts, the combination With a ventilated outer container, of an inner box holding frame comprising bottom and upwardly extending skeleton side portions, vremovable resilient spring sup# ports supported in the bottom of the outer container 'for carrying-the inner box holding frame having intermediate crimps adapted 'to register with slots in the bottom of the inner box holding frame to prevent aceidental displacement, and formed to space the bottom of the out'er container slightly away from the inner frame.

PETER FLANSBURG. 

